In a significant legal development, the MP-MLA court in New Delhi confirmed a 45-day jail sentence for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Anoop Sanda over a road blockade incident dating back to 2001.
The case stems from an incident on June 19, 2001, when Anoop Sanda, then associated with the Democratic Socialist Party, along with Sanjay Singh and their supporters, staged a protest concerning power issues, blocking a crucial road near a local flyover. This act led to their arrest and subsequent trial.
The accused were originally convicted by Special Court Magistrate Yogesh Yadav on January 11, 2023. Each of the six accused, including Sanda and Singh, was sentenced to 45 days in prison and fined Rs 1,500. Following the conviction, the defendants filed an appeal against the verdict, which was taken up by Special Sessions Judge (MP/MLA) Ekta Verma.
On Tuesday, Judge Verma dismissed the appeals filed by Singh and Sanda, upholding the original sentence. Special Public Prosecutor Vaibhav Pandey presented the case against the accused, arguing for the upholding of the magistrate’s decision based on the evidence of the disruption caused during the protest.
Sanjay Singh, a prominent figure in the AAP and a native of Sultanpur district, has a history of political activism that includes founding the ‘Sultanpur Samaj Sewa Sangathan’ in 1994. His early political activities revolved around advocating for hawkers’ rights under the banner of the Democratic Socialist Party, where he worked closely with socialist leader Raghu Thakur.
The defense team, consisting of lawyers Kamlesh Kumar Singh, Karuna Shankar Dwivedi, Arvind Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, and Vibhash Srivastava, argued on behalf of the convicted leaders, contending issues related to the evidence and procedural aspects of the case.
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This ruling marks a crucial point in the legal journeys of both leaders, potentially impacting their political careers and activities. The decision reflects the judiciary’s stance on political protests that lead to public disruptions.
